Flagman&#39;s outfit



C. C. SHEPARD. FLAGMANS OUTFIT.

SHEETS-SHEEP l.

C. 6'. Sheep 0 ATTORNEY ITNESSES C. C. SHEPARD. FLAGMANS OUTHT. APPlzlCATION man APR. |s. 1s21.

Patented Nov. 15, 1921.

INVENTOR 6. 6.8)zepard ATTORNEY wmgzsses 4 PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES C. SHEPARD, 01 BY. OHIO.

FLAGMANS ours-1r.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 15, 1921.

Application filed April 13, 1921. Serial No. 40mm.

To all whom it may concern:

lie it known that I, Crushes C. SHEPARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at B er, in the county of Jacksonand State of Ohio, have: invented new and useful Improvements in Flagmens Outfits, of which the following is a specification.

This invention comprehenrls the provision of a flagmanh outfit, consisting of a flag including a hollow handle to accommodate a container for a number of torpedoes and a fuse, so that the latter can be conveniently carried and used as the occasion requires.

Another important object of the inventioul resides in the provision of a flag equipped with means for holding the flag taut when extended, so that the flag can be maintained in a given position with respect to the handle to be readily viewed by the engineer. 1

A. further object of the invention resides in the provision of a flag of the above mentioned character, which is equip ed with means to facilitate winding the ag about the handle or unwinding the same therefrom, and for also holding the flag in either its wound or unwound condition.

The nature and advantages of the invention will be better understood when the following detailed description is read in connection with the accompanying drawings, the invention residing in the combination, construction, and arrangement of parts as claimed.

In the drawings forming part of this application, like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view showing the flag wound about the handle.

Fig. 2 is a view showing the flag in extended position for use.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line l4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the handle.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of the handle showing the torpedo container partly removed therefrom.

Fig. 7 is a detail view of the torpedo container.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 10 indicates the handle of the device to which the flag 11 is secured in the usual well known manner to permit the flag to be wound about the handle and unwound therefrom as the occasion requires. The handle 10 is formed with a spiral groove 12 which terminates to provide an offset portion 13 for a purpose tobe presently described. For the purpose of facilitating unwind mg of the flag from the handle, as well as winding the flag about the handle evenly, and to further hold the flag taut when extended, so that it can be readily viewed by the engineer, I make use of two parallel arms 14 which have their upper extremities suitably secured to the free edge of the flag as at 15, the opposite and corresponding extremity of these arms being secured to a pivoted member 16 supported by a sleeve 17 mounted on the handle 10 for sliding movement. The pivot'for the member 16 has associated therewith a spring 18 which is arranged to exert an outward pressure against the member 17, so that when the flag is extended for use, the arms, 14 are held obliquely to the handle, thereby holding the flag taut. Manifestly, when the flag is turned to a position whereby it can be readily viewed by the engineer, it remains in this position, inasmuch as it cannot be blown in any direction with respect to the handle. The sleeve 17 carries a pm 19 which rides in the spiral groove 12, and when the flag is in its extended position, the pin 19 is arranged in the offset extremity 13 of the groove, thereby holding the sleeve immovable upon the handle and the flag in its extended position. Obviously, when the flag is extended, the sleeve 17 moves upwardly on the handle 10, and when the flag is wound about the handle, the sleeve 17 moves downwardly thereon. As the sleeve assumes the latter mentioned position, the arms 14 are moved toward the handle, simultaneously occupying a position substantially parallel thereto, while the pin 19 is received by one of the convolutions of the groove in a mannor to hold the flag wound about the handle. The flag can be very quickly wound about or unwound from the handle, and by reason of the sleeve moving longitudinally of the handle and its connection with the flag, it is apparent that the flag is very evenly wound or unwound as the occasion may be. The handle 10 is hollow and is closed at one end by means of a cap 20 carlried by a tubular container which is adapted to be received by the hollow handle 10. This and a connection container is made up of two sections 21 and 23 respectively which are hingedly connected together as at 24. The section 23 is adapted to contain torpedoes of the usual well known construction for association with the track of a railway, and herein indlcated', while the section 21 accommodates a scribed, and that such changes may be resorted to when 'desired as fall within the scopeof what is claimed.

.-What I claim is:

' 2111 A fiag comprising a handle having a spiral'groove,

a sleeve slidably mounted upon the handle, a pin carried by the sleeve and-movable within said groove, means for holding the sleeve fixed upon the handle at the limit of its movement in either direction, between the sleeve and flag for holding the latter taut in its extended position;

2. A flag comprising a handle having a spiral groove, the latter terminating to provide an offset portion, a sleeve slidable upon the handle, a pin carried by the sleeve and movable in said groove, a connection be tween the flag and sleeve whereby the latter is moved upwardly on the handle when the flag is unwound, and moved downwardly on the handle when the flag is wound about the latter, said pin being received by the offset extremity to hold the sleeve fixed upon the handle in one of its adjusted positions, and said connection between the said sleeve and flag holds the latter taut in its given position.

3. A flag comprising a handle having a spiral groove, a sleeve slidable on the handle, a pin carried by the sleeve and movable in the groove, a member pivoted on said sleeve, an arm connected with said pivoted member and with the free end of the flag, whereby the sleeve is moved upwardly on the handle when the flag is unwound therefrom, and moved downwardly on the handle when the flag is wound about the latter, and yieldable means for holding the said arm in a position to keep the flag taut when the latter is extended for use.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CHARLES C. SHEPARD. 

